Southern California Desert Day Trips

Dublin Gulch is a unique ghost town with most of its city underground. In the early 1900s, miners and railroad workers created living quarters by carving caves in the cliffs near Shoshone, California. These dwellings had dual purposes - to keep people cool during the scorching summer heat and … [Read more...]

California is rich in history. Reading about history in a book is one thing, but it is far more enriching to see locations and experience the past in person. The Manzanar National Historic Site is a location worthy of your time if you are hungry for mid-century history in California.Manzanar was … [Read more...]

Joshua Tree National Park day trip is the best thing to do and see while visiting this fantastic desert park. Joshua Tree National Park sits in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, covering nearly 800,000 acres. Over half of that land area has been officially designated as a wilderness area, which … [Read more...]

Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park displays a fantastic collection of Native American artifacts. The museum is located in the Mojave Desert, about 25 miles from the town of Lancaster.This wonderful little gem is only open on weekends from 9 am to 4 pm. There is a small admission … [Read more...]

Mojave National Preserve is located in the heart of the Mojave Desert and was established in 1994 through the California Desert Protection Act. It is a must for any outdoor enthusiast and an excellent way for the entire family to spend some time outdoors.Visitors can explore nearly 1.5 million … [Read more...]

Situated in the foothills above the Coachella Valley floor, the inhabitants of Desert Hot Springs get a bird's eye view of the bustling life of the rich and famous in nearby Palm Springs. Plenty of sunshine with average temperatures in the mid to upper 80s allows visitors to enjoy one of the area's … [Read more...]

Harvey House Railroad Depot, also known as the Casa Del Desierto, sits by the railroad tracks in Barstow, California. The Barstow Railroad Depot opened in 1911 as a Santa Fee train station and Harvey House.Before there were dining cars, trains would stop at Harvey Houses so passengers could eat … [Read more...]

The Palm Springs Air Museum allows visitors to experience firsthand the sacrifice our flyers made in preserving the freedom we take for granted. It’s a worthwhile stop on your next getaway and the perfect opportunity to pay homage to those heroes.The museum is home to one of the nation's largest … [Read more...]

Day Trip to Noah Purifoy Joshua Tree Outdoor MuseumNoah Purifoy Outdoor Museum is an unusual collection of artwork, way out there in the middle of nowhere along a dusty desert road.Artist Noah Purifoy (1917-2004) moved to the desert to escape because Los Angeles was just too expensive to … [Read more...]

Oasis Date Gardens are a 175-acre date ranch dedicated to growing Organically Certified Medjool Dates. Located along the old road to the Imperial Valley, the date ranch was established in 1912.While guests cannot roam around the palm groves, they can visit the company store. Customers shop for … [Read more...]

Scotty's Castle is still closed. No opening date has been setBuilt in 1927 by wealthy insurance executive Albert Johnson, smack dab in the middle of Death Valley National Park is Scotty's Castle. A 32,000-square-foot two-story Spanish Villa in Grapevine Canyon.A trip to this magnificent … [Read more...]

Coachella Valley Preserve is a short, convenient, air-conditioned day trip from Palm Springs.Take a nice leisurely walk through a natural oasis in the middle of the desert, or work up a sweat under the sweltering desert sun, and then retire for a cool drink in the shade of a gorgeous palm grove. … [Read more...]